Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-01-08

going with Ceclle. am sure 1t Will
do you good" And then he stopped
and kissed her for emphasis.
81 60 to please you, Philip. | am
quite well, thank YOU"
"Oh, but / don't mean about your
health, Mona, you little witch! Who
could have such bright eyes and red
lips and not be quite we'll? / mean
about dress and department and those
kind of things"
There was an ominous silence, and
then low, gieved voice:
81 don't think ! understand you,
Philip"
"No, dear; and upon the whole
am glad you never understood so far.
You see, when we are married and
live in the city, we must dress and
behave as city people do. Cecile will
show you all aboutit, darling; sodon't
trouble your pretty little head"
II thought you liked me just as
am, Philip. What is wrong in the
city that is pretty and proper in the
country, will you tell me?"
certainly, Mona. Your loose,
flowing hair and short dresses, and
your frank, familiar ways, all so per-
fectly charming just here, would oc-
casion remark and unpleasant criti-
cism in the city. / want my little
girl to be as fashionable and as styl-
ish as-well, as Jessie Mabin."
"Ah! She is your ideal, is she?"
Much moreto the same purpose,
mingled with kisses and compliments
but, nothing init deceived the wound
ed woman's heart. For Mona, though
not fashionable woman, was a true
woman, nevertheless, and understood
not only what had been said, butalso
all that had been left to be inferred.
1t was not possible for him to leave
his business entirely, but it had been
arranged that once a month he was
to pay few days visit to the springs
and in the intervals be refreshed and
comforted by regular and plentiful
supplies Of letters.
The supply was pretty fair the first
week, but fell off gradually afterward
until several days passed without any
token of Nona's faith and memory.
Still, he did not feel much troubled.
He thought that he quite understood
Nona's reasons, and at any. rate he re-
lied with implicit confidence On the
effect which Philip Hayes, in hisown
proper person, could not fail to make.
The confidence did not agree with
events. He arrived at the springs
and found Mona out driving with
Jack Christie-a young man whom
he particularly disliked for his pre-
tentiOus manner. He was on the
piazza when they returned, and he
was certain Mona saw him, though
she kept her eyes on Jacks face, and
pretended the greatest interest in his
foolish conversation; for of two things
Philip was certain first, that her in
terest was pretended, and second, thai
Jacks conversation was foolish.
Then he, unaccountably, and, as hi
very well knew, unreasonably, chill
ed by the greeting Of the splendidly
dressed Mona, who calmly and non
chalantly extended the tips of he
gloved fingers to him, drawing on
the while pretty little assurance o
being $50 glad to see Mr.. Hayes,
with the'information that Cecile ha
been expecting him since the earl,
morning train.
: "Cecilew he said, reproachfully
"And you too, Nona"
"Oh, no, Mr.. Hayes. 1t is too eX
t hausting to expect anything. One a
a time is sufficient"
Philip was shocked and silenced 70
1 time. For one distressing half hou
J, he tried to assume his rights as he
betrothed, but she kept Jack Christi
: persistently between them; and sc
: angry and hurt, he sought his sister
e Cecile.
"Cecile," he said, "what a chang
= there is in Mona! What the cause?
, ga wonderful change! / never say
girl improve so rapidly. / suppos
you are the cause. Do you kno'
. that she is the belle? Jack Christi
i and Ed. Forsyth and half doze
:, others are raving about her. Pos
lively they are Phil"
every kind of them, but"
}, "Well, so it is, you know. Yer
-? many families, and all of that kind (
y thing, you know. Upon my wore
i brother, l believe Mona will make